Many Alaska cruise guests look forward to sampling Alaska's famed local seafood on their cruise vacation. Alaska is known for its outstanding seafood, including wild-caught salmon and halibut, king crab, scallops and razor clams, Dungeness crab, rockfish, shrimp, and oysters.

Freshly caught wild Alaska salmon is often the seafood of choice on Alaska cruises. There are five species of Pacific salmon: King Salmon; Sockeye Salmon; Coho Salmon; Chum Salmon; and Pink Salmon. Alaska's cruise ports feature plenty of local restaurants where you can savor Alaska salmon and fresh seafood. In addition, there are more options for getting your fill of Alaska’s famous culinary delights on your cruise as well.

Here are eight great places to get delicious fresh seafood on your next Alaska cruise.

1. Enjoy Amazing Alaska Seafood At Sea

Today’s best cruise ships feature superb specialty restaurants. Now in its 76th Alaska season, Holland America Line has long been known for its exceptional Alaska cruises and outstanding culinary experiences. Fresh, certified sustainable Alaska seafood is the star of the culinary show on the cruise line’s Alaska voyages. Holland America Line has been awarded Responsible Fisheries Management certification, making it the first and only cruise line serving solely fresh, certified sustainable and traceable wild Alaska seafood on its Alaska sailings.

Holland America Line has partnered with Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) to offer the best sustainably sourced Alaska seafood, and guests will surely find plenty to enjoy. On any of its Alaska cruises, Holland America Line serves over 2,000 pounds of Alaska Salmon, 1,000 pounds of Alaska cod, 800 pounds of Alaska halibut, 500 pounds of Alaska rockfish, and much more. New fresh Alaska seafood dishes have also been developed by Holland America Line’s Culinary Council Member Chef Ethan Stowell and ASMI. Holland America Line’s menus feature numerous Alaska seafood items throughout their ships.

2. Grab A Bite At Alaska’s Best Seafood Restaurants

Juneau has some fantastic seafood restaurants. Some of my favorites are Tracy’s King Crab Shack, Deckhand Dave’s and Twisted Fish Company Alaskan Grill. Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juneau is well known for its Alaskan King Crabs, Dungeness Crabs, and Snow Crabs, but they also serve other fresh Alaska seafood like salmon and halibut.

Known as the "Salmon Capital of the World," Ketchikan is another great location for cruise guests to sample fresh Alaska seafood. Travelers should head straight for the Alaska Fish House restaurant at the end of Main Street, just a short stroll away from the cruise ship docks. Here you can try smoked salmon chowder, salmon or halibut burgers, salmon or halibut fish & chips, Dungeness and king crab legs, and fish tacos. All seafood is bought directly from local sources in town. George Inlet Lodge is an excellent option as well.

Skagway has several choice restaurants for seafood lovers as well. Some of these include Skagway Fish Company, Woadie’s South East Seafood, and Wild Alaska Catch.

3. Go Fishing

If catching fresh fish like salmon and halibut is more to your liking, arrange to go sport fishing on one of Alaska’s many Coast Guard-licensed charter fishing boats. Some Visitors Bureaus in Alaska ports maintain a list of sport fishing tour operators on their websites. Full and half-day excursions are available, and an Alaska state fishing license is required.

Some fishing trip operators, such as Baranof Fishing Excursions in Ketchikan, will serve up your salmon catch for lunch in a wilderness dining setting or at the Alaska Fish House restaurant. Almost all guided fishing tour operators can arrange for your salmon catch to be shipped home if you’d prefer.

Holland America Line also offers its guests a memorable option. As part of Holland America Line’s unique ocean-to-table dining experience, guests who catch their own fish on Alaska shore excursions can have it prepared and served on board.

4. Try a Tasty Salmon Bake

There’s something special about wild Alaska salmon grilled over an alder wood fire. Sampling such a meal is a true Alaska experience. So while you’re on your Alaska cruise, head to a local salmon bake and experience it yourself.

Operated for over 30 years, the Gold Creek Salmon Bake is a popular Juneau attraction. It’s often combined with gold panning, whale watching, and trips to Mendenhall Glacier. Guests can wander along the rainforest creek and take pictures at the Salmon Creek waterfall before enjoying an all-you-can-eat buffet of wild Alaska salmon, chicken, baked beans, au gratin potatoes, and various sides and salads. Don’t miss roasting marshmallows over the campfire and blueberry cake for dessert.

The Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp & Salmon Bake in Skagway is another popular salmon bake.

5. Take An Alaska Food Tour

Sampling fresh Alaskan flavors with local guides is a great way to try mouth-watering Alaska seafood. Cruise guests can explore the city's food scene in Juneau with Juneau Food Tours. On their excursion, they'll learn about the city’s history and culture while walking to selected restaurants and sampling eight tastings of local foods such as fresh wild Alaska salmon, King crab bisque, smoked salmon caviar, and delicious desserts.

Cruise guests visiting the port of Haines can get their foodie fix on the Taste of Haines tour, where they’ll have the opportunity to taste delicacies such as salmon cakes and spirits from the Port Chilkoot Distillery.

6. Get Some Air – And Salmon, Too

Take a flightseeing tour from downtown Juneau and sample some of the best salmon Alaska offers. On this excursion, cruise guests take a flightseeing trip to serene Taku Glacier Lodge, located across from five-mile-wide Taku Glacier in a remote area of the Tongass National Forest. On the way, passengers fly over five massive glaciers flowing out from the Juneau Icefield.

After landing on the water in front of Taku Glacier Lodge, there’s plenty of time to explore the lodge’s beautiful grounds or do a little shopping before enjoying an amazing salmon feast complete with all the fixings. Taku Glacier Lodge expertly grills their wild Alaska salmon over an alder wood fire, and the irresistible smell often attracts wild black bears. After lunch and the opportunity for a lovely nature walk, a scenic 15-minute return floatplane trip brings guests back to Juneau.

7. Sail On A Culinary Cruise

Guests seeking to learn culinary tips and techniques from some of the world’s top chefs can sail on a Holland America Line “Culinary Cruise” hosted by one of the members of Holland America Line’s Culinary Council. Each of these unique “Culinary Cruises” features live chef-led cooking demonstrations and culinary experiences.

"Culinary Cruise" guests can bring home recipes from the cooking presentations, interact with the chefs at a special coffee chat, and enjoy an exclusive reservation-only dinner at one of the cruise line’s specialty restaurants. Culinary Council chef signature dishes are also featured on restaurant menus during the cruise. This year, Holland America Line is offering a 14-day Great Alaskan Explorer “Culinary Cruise” in May with Culinary Council member Andy Matsuda.

8. Feast on Delicious Crab

Dining on fresh Alaska crab can include learning experiences, too. Several Alaska shore excursions include the opportunity to learn about the lives of local Alaskans while checking crab pots and trolling through local waters on a scenic boat ride. After an enriching boat tour, guests can enjoy an all-you-can-eat crab feast, including Dungeness crab, baby red potatoes, salads, and delectable desserts. Some of the most popular excursions include Ketchikan’s Wilderness Exploration and Crab Feast tour and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show & Crab Feast. Both visit the historic George Inlet Lodge.